diff --git a/client.cpp b/client.cpp
index 8805b388e8..1fc719896d 100644
--- a/client.cpp
+++ b/client.cpp
@@ -2230,11 +2230,20 @@ void Client::debug(QDebug& stream) const
     print<QDebug>(stream);
 }
 
-void Client::checkActivities()
+Xcb::StringProperty Client::fetchActivities() const
+{
+#ifdef KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
+    return Xcb::StringProperty(window(), atoms->activities);
+#else
+    return Xcb::StringProperty();
+#endif
+}
+
+void Client::readActivities(Xcb::StringProperty &property)
 {
 #ifdef KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
     QStringList newActivitiesList;
-    QByteArray prop = Xcb::StringProperty(window(), atoms->activities);
+    QByteArray prop = property;
     activitiesDefined = !prop.isEmpty();
     if (QString::fromUtf8(prop) == Activities::nullUuid()) {
         //copied from setOnAllActivities to avoid a redundant XChangeProperty.
@@ -2272,6 +2281,16 @@ void Client::checkActivities()
         }
     }
     setOnActivities(newActivitiesList);
+#else
+    Q_UNUSED(property)
+#endif
+}
+
+void Client::checkActivities()
+{
+#ifdef KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
+    Xcb::StringProperty property = fetchActivities();
+    readActivities(property);
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/client.h b/client.h
index a66a013579..90d32279e6 100644
--- a/client.h
+++ b/client.h
@@ -1036,6 +1036,8 @@ private:
 
     friend bool performTransiencyCheck();
 
+    Xcb::StringProperty fetchActivities() const;
+    void readActivities(Xcb::StringProperty &property);
     void checkActivities();
     bool activitiesDefined; //whether the x property was actually set
 
diff --git a/manage.cpp b/manage.cpp
index a7da4029bc..9c5b054399 100644
--- a/manage.cpp
+++ b/manage.cpp
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ bool Client::manage(xcb_window_t w, bool isMapped)
     auto colorSchemeCookie = fetchColorScheme();
     auto firstInTabBoxCookie = fetchFirstInTabBox();
     auto transientCookie = fetchTransient();
+    auto activitiesCookie = fetchActivities();
     info = new WinInfo(this, m_client, rootWindow(), properties, properties2);
 
     // If it's already mapped, ignore hint
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@ bool Client::manage(xcb_window_t w, bool isMapped)
     init_minimize = rules()->checkMinimize(init_minimize, !isMapped);
     noborder = rules()->checkNoBorder(noborder, !isMapped);
 
-    checkActivities();
+    readActivities(activitiesCookie);
 
     // Initial desktop placement
     if (session) {